Things remembered coupon code: How to Buy the Right Engagement Ring

You found your soul mate; now you just need to find an engagement ring that she'll love for, oh, the rest of her life. No pressure. Seriously—once you figure out what she likes (with a little subterfuge), the rest is easy

There's bafflingly little useful advice out there about buying an engagement ring. Google mostly spits back websites that teach you how to become an amateur gemologist, and your best bud just keeps saying he might know someone who knows someone who can get you a deal on a diamond. (He doesn't.) So we've assembled some hard-won wisdom that will help you get what you want—which, really, is all about what she wants—without getting suckered.

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1. This Is Gonna Sting a Little

You'll hear that you should spend two to three months' salary on a ring, but that's pre-recession talk. Be realistic: Start with four to six weeks' worth of paychecks, and be prepared to drop a little extra if it'll get you perfection.

2. Act Like a Cat Burglar

Don't guess at her size—steal one of her rings to have it sized by a jeweler. While you're in her jewelry box, take a few cell-phone shots so you can remember what she likes.

3. ...Then Turn Her Friends Into Accomplices

Ask her pals (the ones who can keep a secret) if she's dropped any hints—the type of metal, the cut of the stone, a designer she likes. Because she has.

4. Think of Yourself, Just This Once

She might want her wedding band to match her engagement ring—and some couples like their wedding bands to match, too. In other words: Know that if you get her a rose-gold band, you might also end up wearing rose gold.

5. Know the Rules of the Rock

You can get a quick education online about how gemologists grade stones, but after that, you need guidelines: For a diamond, avoid any color grade below H (too yellow) or any cut grade below Very Good (not enough sparkle). We'd choose a better cut and clearer color over more carats, but if she's expecting a boulder, your choice is made for you.

6. Go Beyond the White Diamond

These days it's cool to put some color on her ring finger; black diamonds, yellow diamonds, emeralds, and sapphires are all fair game as center or accent stones.

Things remembered coupon code: WEDDING DRESS COLOURS TO SUIT YOUR SKIN TONE

Did you know that choosing the right colour wedding dress for your skin tone is as important as choosing the right shape? You may have fallen in love with a certain silhouette but the wrong colour can wash you out in seconds! When it comes to wedding gowns, white and ivory are just the start! So which shade is right for you?

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Fair skin

If you’re an English rose with fair skin, you’ll look best in yellow-toned ivory gowns. Steer clear of the traditional bright white wedding dresses as they will make you look washed out in your wedding photographs.

Medium shades

If your skin is a medium tone and tans easily without burning, look for wedding dresses with a creamier undertone.

Medium with pink undertones

Medium pale skin with a pinky undertones works best with creamier colours like ivory. This is the most popular colour of wedding gown and you’ll find most shop samples in a light ivory colour as standard.

Yellow undertones

If your skin has yellow undertones, and you want a traditional look, you’re in luck! White dresses will suit you, as will fabrics in a Champagne shade.

Dark skin

Dark skin tones have the most choice – almost every shade of wedding dress will complement your skin. If you have yellow or olive undertones steer away from ivory dresses with a yellow tone and try bright white or rum pink colours instead. Look for gowns by award-winning Ian Stuart and Veromia if you’re dreaming of a coloured wedding dress.

Things remembered coupon code: Choosing The Right Wedding White

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Many brides go to their first bridal salon with dreams of finding their fairytale wedding gown—and are soon disappointed. They try on gown after gown that looks beautiful on the hanger, but when they slip into them they just don’t live up to the dream. They know something isn’t quite right but they can’t put their finger on it. If this has happened to you, then perhaps the problem isn’t the style or cut of the gown but the color.

Although the traditional choice is a pure white wedding gown, the reality is that few women can wear pure white successfully. Many skin tones look either washed out or sallow next to unrelieved white. There are, however, numerous shades of white and cream that are ideal for wedding gowns and are still quite traditional. Choosing one of these shades can make your skin come alive and your eyes sparkle, where stark white may have given you a tired or sickly appearance.

How do you choose the right shade of white or cream for you? If you can afford it, talk to a fashion color consultant, who will not only advise you on what shade is appropriate for your gown, but can guide you in all of your fashion choices. If not, take an honest look at your skin tone and let it be your guide.

If you have very fair skin, a warm shade of white with a touch of yellow in it will add some warmth and a glow to your skin. A stark white will only wash you out.

If you have sallow or olive skin, whites with a pink undertone (sometimes called cool whites) will balance things and give you a fresh, dewy look. Shades to consider might be champagne or rum white. You can also wear silk white, which is slightly less stark than pure white.

If you have medium skin that is pinker or has blue undertones, try some of the creamier ivories and whites. These have a rich yellow undertone that will keep you from looking too flushed and red, and will complement your complexion.

If you’re a dark-skinned bride, almost any shade of white will look lovely against your skin. The only exception may be if you are dark-skinned with olive undertones—in that case, try to steer clear of yellow-ivory shades. 

What are the Many Shades of White?

The names given to colors can be confusing. Here are some of the most commonly used names for white, which are standard in the industry:

Stark White or Bright White

The purest, starkest white almost glows, and is particularly striking against dark skin. It is also the most difficult shade to wear, as it can drain the color from fair and medium skin tones.

Champagne White

This is a beautiful white with a slight pink undertone. In photos and low light, it looks nearly white but adds richness to olive or sallow skin. A slightly deeper version of this shade is sometimes called Rum White.

Ivory

There is a great deal of variation in shades of ivory, which is the most universally flattering hue for brides. Be sure to hold a color swatch of any ivory next to your face to see how it plays against your skin and eye color. Some have creamy, warm undertones while others have a slightly pinker tint. Eggshell is one of the lighter shades of ivory.

Candlelight

This is a somewhat deeper shade of ivory with a beige-cream undertone. The name refers to the fact that it is meant to appear white under candlelight. It’s especially fitting for evening weddings, when its richness and depth will be set off to best advantage.

Ecru

The deepest shade of ivory available, ecru borders on tan or beige. The name refers to the unbleached or raw color of linen. If you are looking for something that is less traditional and has some depth, ecru is worth trying out.

Beyond White

More and more brides today are turning away from traditional whites and ivories, a trend that will continue to grow in the future. After all, the notion that white denotes purity or virginity only started in the 1800s, and has since fallen away—today’s bride can wear any color she likes. Nowadays, the wedding gown signifies joy and celebration, and should reflect the bride’s taste.

Pastels are a popular alternative that can perfectly complement the bride’s complexion. Sheerest pinks, icy blues and butter-cream yellows are all elegant choices. A pale gold or shimmering silver gown is also a sophisticated option for an evening wedding, when the most formal of attire is expected.

If you are set on a white gown, however, you don’t have to be limited to all-over white. Consider a dress of white lace with a silk or satin underlay in another color for an interesting contrast. Colorful embellishments—sequins, beading or embroidery—also adds luxurious detail. A white gown trimmed at the neckline in a richer tone can bring color to the face while breaking up the starkness of the dress.

Whatever color you choose for your wedding dress, if you take into account how it looks against your skin as well as how it works with the style of your gown, you’ll glow on your wedding day!

Things remembered coupon code: Wine for a Wedding or Party: How to Choose, Buy & Serve It

When planning a wedding or a big party where you’ll need more than a few bottles of wine, it’s not always easy to calculate exactly how much wine you’ll need.

While it’s relatively easy to decide how much food you need to make for people (100 guests = 100 plates of food), it’s a bit trickier to figure out how much wine to buy for a wedding and how to serve it.

Here’s a step-by-step guide for incorporating wine into your next big event.

1. Decide how you’ll serve the wine

The way you choose to serve your wine to guests will depend on the event.

If your event is relatively small and you want to project a feeling of homeyness (for example, an event where you can fit most of the guests around one or two large dining tables), the most elegant yet informal way to serve wine is in decanters placed on the table. So that guests know what they’re drinking, leave an empty bottle on the table, too. Guests will feel at home helping themselves, and the catering staff should simply replace empty decanters with full ones as the evening progresses.

An added benefit of serving wine in decanters is that the decanting process will soften the wine for your guests’ enjoyment. If you’re having an outdoor event, you might use decanter balls to protect the wine from flying insects. Just don’t let wine sit in the decanters too long, or it will lose its aroma and flavor.

If your evening also includes a cocktail portion, consider a self-serve bar where wine is decanted and ready to pour either in a traditional decanter or in a wine dispenser. Or, the catering staff can pass glasses of wine on trays to guests.

When it comes to larger affairs such as weddings and outdoor events, pass white wine, red wine, Champagne and water during cocktail hour to alleviate stress on the bar since most people will start with these four drinks. When pouring and passing wine, the catering staff should replenish the white wine about every 15-20 minutes. This ensures guests are being served wine properly chilled and at the correct temperature, particularly on hot days.

The catering staff should pour both red and white wine intermittently throughout the dinner service so people won’t have to continually get up to top off their drinks. Wine should be poured as soon as each course is served, or every half hour for a buffet-style dinner. You’ll need a 10:1 ratio of catering staff to guests to make all of these transitions seamless.

2. Order the right amount and type of wine for your guests

This is probably the trickiest part about planning an event. It will depend largely on the sort of event you’re having as well as the other beverages you’re serving.

As a general rule of thumb, guests will drink one glass per hour of the party, with the assumption that some will drink more and some will drink less. You know your crowd the best, and some events may require more. If it’s a college graduation party, for example, add a case or two of wine.

Let’s say you’re hosting a 5-hour event, with one hour of cocktails and four hours of dinner and dancing. You have 100 people on the list. 100 people x 5 hours = 500 drinks total.

If you plan to serve only beer and wine, follow this ratio: 20 percent beer, 80 percent wine. That means you’ll need 400 glasses of wine and 100 glasses of beer. Typically, one glass of beer is one bottle and one bottle of wine has five glasses. So you would need to order nine 12-packs of beer (100 / 12 = 8.333, round up to 9) and 80 bottles of wine (or roughly 7 cases).

Again, depending on the event, split those cases evenly between red and white (or red, white and Champagne). If it’s a winter event, more people will drink red. If it’s a summer event or a hot day, more people will drink white and Champagne. Consider your season and order accordingly.

3. Select the right glassware

Another tricky element is having enough glassware for a large event. Perhaps you own a significant amount of glassware already, but you don’t want to have mismatched glasses at an event.

Follow the same ratio for the wine: one glass per person per hour, split based on the sort of alcohol you serve. For the event noted above, you’d need 400 wine glasses split evenly among red, white and Champagne, and 100 highballs for beer (although most guests will drink their beer from the bottle.) This estimate also takes into account some inevitable breakage, which will balance out for people who reuse their glass each time they get a new drink.

Again, when selecting glassware, picture your event. Is it a large, sit-down dinner? If so, stemless glassware is fine since guests will rest their drinks on the table, minimizing the effect of wine warming in their hands. If you’re hosting a cocktail-style event, stemmed glassware is your best bet to maintain the integrity of the wine’s temperature and flavor. And if your event has both a standing cocktail hour and a sit-down element? Go with stemmed glasses. It is the most versatile for that particular event as well as in the future if you plan on hosting other large events.

For large events, I always recommend choosing specific glassware for the appropriate drink (that is, separate red wine, white wine and Champagne glasses rather than dual-purpose glassware.) This streamlines the process if, say, you have a catered event where waitstaff pours wine for guests during the sit-down portion of the event. This way, caterers won’t make the mistake of pouring red wine into a glass that previously held white wine, as might be the case if you choose a dual-purpose glass. But, for smaller events where guests will self-serve, dual-purpose stemware works just as well.

About the author: My name is Linda. I love shopping, bags, beauty, coupons, Things remembered coupon code, Drugstore.com coupon code 2016

Things remembered coupon code: 5 Tips – How to Choose the Perfect Bridal Bouquet

Flowers are an integral part of any wedding, and serve to make it more colorful, vibrant, and memorable. But there is no single arrangement of flowers that is as singularly important on the big day as the bridal bouquet itself. Stemming from an ancient European tradition, the wedding bouquet represents the good fortunes and future prosperity of the bride, and it was customary for unmarried women to tear pieces from the bride’s bouquet in order to capture some of that good fortune for themselves. Today, echoes of that long gone tradition are found whenever a new bride tosses her bouquet to a crowd of her single friends. But what makes a perfect bridal bouquet, and how should you go about choosing the perfect bouquet for your wedding?

Considering the Bridal Bouquet

The bridal bouquet is more than just a simple costume accessory. It is a focal point of the bride’s ensemble, and she will be expected to carry it with her throughout the entirety of the wedding day. Therefore, the bride’s bouquet needs to be something special. However, deciding on the perfect bridal bouquet can be difficult, even for those brides with a green thumb and a natural instinct for style and flower arranging. So we’ve put together some simple tips to help guide new brides in their choice of wedding bouquets.

1 – Choose the Wedding Dress First

This may seem obvious, but as the bridal bouquet must accent the bride’s wedding gown it is always advisable to choose your wedding dress at Things remembered coupon code first. The final design and floral components of your bouquet will depend on the style, color, and cut of your wedding dress. So, when you meet with your florist be sure to bring a photograph of your dress (or a sketch if it is still in the design stage) to help you both design an appropriate bridal bouquet to accompany it.

2 – Consider the Shape and Size of the Bouquet

The bridal bouquet is meant to accentuate the wedding dress, not obscure it. Many brides like the idea of large, trailing, bouquets. However, if there is fine detail work on the skirt of your wedding dress, a larger bouquet will only obscure it and defeat the purpose of wearing such an intricately designed gown. Consider something smaller, and more colorfully dramatic, to give your bouquet the wow factor you’re looking for. And remember the bridal bouquet rule of thumb – your bouquet should be smaller than your waist, to help accentuate your natural shape.

3 – Color Coordination

Color coordination is key when it comes to all flower arrangements, and that is particularly true for the wedding bouquet. Creams and whites can be difficult to match, so be sure to bring a photo of your dress, or a swath of material, for your florist to work from when designing the color scheme of your bouquet.

4 – Choose Seasonal Blooms

Some flowers won’t be available at all times of the year, or at the very least they will be harder to procure and much more expensive. Work with your florist to find the most suitable and attractive seasonal blooms to incorporate into your bridal bouquet. Flowers also have a language all their own, and certain blooms have significant meanings. For example, Heather signifies solitude while an Hibiscus represents delicate beauty. Work with your florist to choose the flower that best represents your wedding day and the emotions you will be feeling.

5 – Personalize Your Bouquet

The bridal bouquet is a very personal part of your wedding ensemble, and should necessarily reflect your own tastes, style and attitude. If there are specific flowers that you favor, work with your florist to incorporate them into the bouquet’s design. If you have a family heirloom, say your Grandmother’s antique brooch, have the florist work it into the clutch of the bouquet. This is not only a fine way to personalize your bouquet, but it is an opportunity to remember a lost loved one. Of course, you will have to remove the item before it comes time to toss the bouquet.

The perfect bridal bouquet is an important part of every bride’s wedding ensemble. Beyond the traditional history of the bouquet, it focuses attention onto the innate beauty and freshness of a bride on her wedding day. Choosing the perfect bridal bouquet is not necessarily difficult, but it does take time. Consult your florist early in the wedding planning stages, and allow plenty of time to consider different designs and floral choices.

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They're going to punch up the "pretty" factor of your reception and appear in almost all of your formal photographs. At a minimum, you'll probably want to order a bridal bouquet; bouquets for your attendants; boutonnieres for the groom, groomsmen and fathers; corsages for the mothers; flowers for the ceremony site; and centerpieces for the reception tables. But the first step is to find a florist who "gets" you — and will get the job done right.

Start Interviewing Pros

Most couples meet with at least three florists to compare styles, prices and personalities. The manager at your reception site can most likely recommend reliable and talented people. You can also obtain referrals from your house of worship, or recently married friends and family members (especially if you were present at their wedding and witnessed their florist's handiwork firsthand).

Be Prepared

In order to present you with his or her ideas, a florist will need to know three things:

Your budget: Most brides and grooms allot about 3 percent of their total wedding budget to their flowers and décor. It's okay if you don't have much to spend — most floral designers will be willing to work within the parameters of your budget and suggest smart ways to save, like using full-bloom flowers to decrease the number of stems you need.

Your numbers: To determine quantities and, consequently, total prices, the florist will need to know the number of guests you expect, how many bridesmaids and groomsmen you're having, and the number of children, grandparents, parents and stepparents who'll need flowers, too.

Your style: First, have a general idea of the look you want (lavish, simple, mod, romantic). Next, compile an "idea file" of photographs from magazines or books that exemplify the kind of floral designs you like. And have a color scheme in mind. At a loss? Use the design details on your invitation, the color of your bridesmaid dresses and the interior of your reception space as reference points.

What to Bring to Your Appointment

When you attend appointments, you should be ready to show florists:

Your idea file: Visual aids are essential (just like when you're trying out a new haircut at the beauty salon).

A bridesmaid dress fabric swatch: This important item will help the florist to suggest coordinating flowers. (It's not enough to say "lavender," for example, because there are so many variations.)

A photo of your wedding dress: This way, the florist can suggest bouquet styles that are complementary in terms of size, color and grandeur. Remember, too, to specify whether your gown is white or ivory.

Photographs or a brochure of your ceremony and reception sites: The layout, wallpaper, ceiling heights, windows and room and carpet color will greatly affect what your florist dreams up for your décor.

What to Ask Prospective Florists

Don't forget to ask:

"Do you offer any other decorations, such as candles, lighting and linens, and how will these affect the cost?"

"What flowers are least likely to wilt over the course of a four-hour wedding? Can I afford them?"

"If I order specific flowers and they're not available on my wedding day, how do you handle substitutions?"

"Can you guarantee that the flowers will be fresh and arrive on time?"

And ask any other questions that will increase your confidence in, and comfort level with, the florist. At the end of each meeting, be sure to get an estimate — in writing — based on what you've discussed.Now it's time to narrow down your selection. When the florist begins to get a sense of your vision, she'll set out to impress you with her ideas and suggestions. During each meeting, it's important that either you or your fiancé take notes while the other listens carefully. The florist should point out examples in her portfolio (if she doesn't, ask to see it) and will likely make a few quick sketches. There might even be "live" bouquets or arrangements on display that you can check out.

Booking a Florist

When you've finally committed to a florist, set up a second meeting to finalize the details of your order, in terms of the specific types of flowers that will be used, as well as the colors, style or composition, and quantity. This is the time to make adjustments: Do you really need an arrangement for the head table or can you use the bridesmaid bouquets as decoration? Can a similar look be achieved with lilies instead of those pricey cattleya orchids? Can you skip the pew decorations at the ceremony? Trust your florist's knowledge and expertise, and be willing to mix and match your ideas and desires with her recommendations.

The Contract 

The booking process will be complete when you sign a contract. Typically, florists will ask for a 50 percent deposit at that time, with the balance due the week of the wedding. The payment schedule should be clearly stated in your contract, along with: the number and descriptions of each item, with prices; the date, place and time that the flowers will be delivered and assembled; any rental fees for vases or decorations that the florist is providing, along with pickup and return procedures; and any additional labor charges, taxes and other fees.

FLORAL MUSINGS: HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR BRIDAL BOUQUET

Your bridal bouquet is a once in a lifetime accessory.

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When else do you get to carry a beautiful bunch of flowers designed especially for you, all day long?!

Whole weddings can be planned around that very special ‘bunch of flowers’.

Take Blair Waldorf, for example ~ the inspiration for the Gossip Girl wedding was the simple bouquet of pale pink peonies which she always dreamed she’d hold on her big day. Sigh.

However, if you’re a bride like I was, with little to no experience of bouquets, or flowers in general (I did’t know a carnation from a chrysanthemum and thought that crapsedia was a rude word), then there are lots of questions to consider:

What flowers should you include in your bouquet? What colours/shapes work best with your dress? How big should your bouquet be? And how on Earth are you supposed to hold your bouquet?!

To help answer those questions, I’m thrilled to welcome Emma of Emma Lappin Flowers to share her top tips on choosing and making the most of your bridal bouquet.

Emma Lappin is a UK based floral designer specializing in chic, elegant and stylish flower arrangements for weddings and special events. I had the pleasure of meeting Emma at a photography workshop we attended last year, where I got the chance to see (and smell) her stunning designs first hand.

Fragrant and fluffy peony bouquet by Emma Lappin Flowers, photo by me with guidance from fab photographer Emily Quinton.

Onto Emma’s expert floral musings…

10 TIPS FOR CHOOSING & MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR BRIDAL BOUQUET

1) Try to choose your wedding dress before your flowers

When you meet your florist for a consultation, remember to bring a picture of your dress. The design of your bouquet is completely dependent on the style, shape and detail of your dress. I think the key to bouquet design is that it doesn’t drown you, hide the silhouette of the dress or unbalance the line.

2) Consider the shape and size of your bouquet carefully

Do not opt for a trailing bouquet if the feature detail of your dress is on the skirt, but if you have a long train or bustle at the back of your dress you might want to balance the look with a more dramatic bouquet. Do not hide your waist as this is likely to be your narrowest part, so make sure the bouquet is much narrower than your waist.

Whilst bouquet fashions change overtime, the most important thing is that it works with your dress but doesn’t drown you or hide the beautiful details.

3) Find out what flowers are in season on your wedding day
Some flowers just aren’t available at certain times of the year (or are very expensive) so make sure you take this into consideration when choosing which flowers to incorporate into your bouquet.

4) Consider the exact colour of your wedding dress

Colour is key, particularly with whites, ivories and creams. There are so many different shades, your florists can recommend the right type of bloom to work well with the exact colour of your dress, and to compliment your bridesmaid’s dresses. Remember to take swatches if you have them.

If you are having your dress made or altered, ask the dressmaker if you can have any spare material that your florist can use to wrap around the stems of your bouquet, you then have the perfect match.

5) Make it personal

Try to incorporate flowers that might have a personal meaning to either you or another family member. If you have a family heirloom such as an antique brooch, a lace hanky or something else to work into your something old, new, borrowed and blue, ask your florist to add it into the top of the stems.

Brooches in particular look fantastic and are a lovely way to finish off the handle. There are also some lovely cultural traditions that can be incorporated, such as the tassle traditions in Chinese culture.

6) How to hold your bouquet

When you are nervous before your wedding and hold your bouquet for the first time, most brides tend to hold their bouquet with two hands and carry it quite high which immediately lifts the shoulders up. This tends not to make a great picture, particularly if you are wearing a strapless dress.

If you can remember, (get your bridesmaid to remind you) hold your bouquet in one hand and below your hip, slightly away from your dress, so that you can see the silhouette of your dress. This will relax and open your shoulders, improving your posture and creating the best pose for your photographer!

7) Choose a comfortable bouquet (you will be holding it all day, after all!)

Also remember that your bouquet needs to be really comfortable to hold so don’t opt for anything that is going to be awkward to carry and make you hunch your shoulders or stand lop sided.

 8) Make it picture perfect

Pictures of your bouquet are lovely to have so make sure you ask your photographer to do some close ups. Bouquets photograph particularly well in baths, propped up in pretty chairs or if you can bear to put your bouquet down when you are ready to go into your wedding breakfast, placing it to the side of your wedding cake makes a beautiful picture.

9) Keep your bouquet looking fresh into the evening

If you have a hand tied bouquet, you are likely to be able to refresh it at the end of the day by cutting an inch of the stems and popping it into water. Perhaps a job for your mum or friend.

10) Enjoy your beautiful bouquet and remember you don’t have to toss it, you could always preserve it!

As you can see from these exquisite bouquets, Emma is one very talented lady. Check out her blog, Postcards From The Potting Shed, where she shares more of her work and offers floral hints and tips to her readers.  Many thanks to Emma for these fabulous tips. Find out more about Emma Lappin Flowers